The 5 Hidden Causes of Belly Fat and How Liposuction Can Help
Sometimes, despite your best efforts to eat right and get enough exercise, stubborn belly fat just won’t go away. The subcutaneous fat that lies just beneath the skin can be difficult to get rid of through diet and exercise alone, but these five lesser-known contributors to belly fat could be hindering you even more from achieving your goals. If this is the case for you, some lifestyle changes, teamed with liposuction, could help you to get rid of belly fat once and for all.
1. Lack of Sleep
Not getting enough sleep can create a cascade of health concerns, including excess abdominal fat. One study found that men and women who get 5 or fewer hours of sleep each night had a 32 percent increase in belly fat over 5 years, as compared to the 13 percent increase found in those who routinely got 6 or 7 hours of sleep (Sleep).
Interestingly, getting plenty of exercise throughout the day can help to improve your quality of sleep, and can also contribute to a healthy, lean body composition.
2. Insulin Resistance
Those with an insulin resistance will likely notice that abdominal fat is easily stored and difficult to lose. This is because even though your body is producing enough insulin, it isn’t able to properly use it. Thus, this unused glucose builds up in the bloodstream and gets stored as fat, primarily around the midsection (Clinical Biochemist Reviews).
3. Hormonal Imbalance
Your hormones are in a delicate balance in your body. When they get thrown out of whack, they can wreak havoc on your health, including contributing to excess fat storage. When your sex hormones are out of balance, for example, your body tends to store excess fat around your midsection. For women and men with high estrogen levels, abdominal fat will be difficult to lose, but easily stored. Men with low testosterone have a tendency to accumulate a “potbelly,” even when they appear lean in other areas (Asian Journal of Andrology).
4. Stress
Stress is also related to hormones, because when you’re under stress, your body releases cortisol, known as the stress hormone, which actually triggers you to eat more and store more fat (Obesity Research). Acute stress that occurs for a short period of time and then diminishes is, of course, normal, but chronic stress can lead to weight gain, especially in the abdominal area, that can be difficult to get rid of. Stress management is one great way to help combat excessive belly fat, and can include taking a walk outside, aromatherapy, and even regular exercise.
5. Genetics
Unfortunately, some people are simply predisposed to store more fat in their abdominal area than others. Research has uncovered five specific genes that play a major role in determining your weight distribution and ability to lose or gain fat (Human Molecular Genetics). The good news, though, is that your genes don’t necessarily get the final say when it comes to your health and fitness. Making lifestyle changes like eating right, exercising, and getting enough sleep can have a huge impact on your body composition.
When to Consider Liposuction
If stubborn belly fat is a concern for you, the first step to take is to evaluate these five hidden potential causes and adjust your lifestyle accordingly. The best candidates for liposuction will have reached or be very close to reaching their target weight, but may still carry exercise-resistant pockets of fat in the abdominal area. When you feel that there’s simply nothing else you can do to get rid of stubborn fat, consulting a board-certified plastic surgeon can be the next step.
At Premier Plastic Surgery & Dermatology in Pittsburgh and Wexford, our board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Brian Heil would be happy to discuss your liposuction options with you. During your initial consultation, Dr. Heil will provide a thorough assessment of your body composition and will design a surgical plan that’s custom-tailored to meet your unique needs and goals.
For more information about liposuction, or to schedule a consultation, please contact us at 724-264-3608 to take the next step toward loving your look.
